RIP: Shaper Donald Takayama

Master surfboard shaper Donald Takayama has died on Monday, October 22, 2012, according to a story on Surfline.com. He was 68.

Hailing from Waikiki but raised in Honolulu, Takayama placed 2nd to Corky Carroll in the 1966 and 1967 U.S. Surfboard Championships and enjoyed other competitive accolades, however, his main contributions to the sport and culture occurred in the board building realm . . . Takayama founded Hawaiian Pro Designs, where he shaped for budding World Tour professional and eventual Pipeline Master Joey Buran. By the mid ’80s, with labels popping up everywhere and boards getting shorter and weirder, Takayama responded by producing longboards almost exclusively, two of the most popular being signature models for David Nuuhiwa and Dale Dobson.

Our thoughts are with Takayama’s family and friends and we’re honored to have one of his longboards in our quiver. Thanks, Donald.